Vancouver City Council |
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Date: October 28, 2003
Author/Local: S. Hearn/6476
RTS No. 03714
CC File No. 2605
Meeting Date: November 18, 2003
TO:
Vancouver City Council
FROM:
Director of Current Planning
SUBJECT:
Form of Development: 1980 Foley Street
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the form of development for this portion of the CD-1 zoned site known as 555 - 573 Great Northern Way (1980 Foley Street being the project address) be approved generally as illustrated in the Development Application Number DE407227, prepared by Musson Cattell Mackey Partnership and stamped "Received, City Planning Department August 29, 2003", provided that the Director of Planning may impose conditions and approve design changes which would not adversely affect either the development character of this site or adjacent properties.
GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS
The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing.
COUNCIL POLICY
There is no applicable Council policy except that Council did approve in principle the form of development for the site when the rezoning was approved, following a Public Hearing.
PURPOSE
In accordance with Charter requirements, this report seeks Council's approval for the form of development for this portion of the above-noted CD-1 zoned site.
SITE DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND
At a Public Hearing on September 21, 1999, City Council approved a rezoning of this site from I-3 to CD-1 Comprehensive Development District. Council also approved in principle the form of development for these lands. CD-1 By-law Number 8131 was enacted on November 30, 1999. Companion Guidelines (Great Northern Technology Park [555 Great Northern Way] CD-1 Guidelines) were also adopted by Council on the same day.
At a Public Hearing on October 22, 2002 Council approved amendments to create sub-areas consistent with the current land ownership and to apportion approved floor areas to those sub-areas. This amendment (CD-1 By-law No. 8574) was enacted on the same day.
A further amendment (By-law No. 8653) to clarify floor areas and allow a maximum number of live work units was enacted March 11, 2003 following a February 27, 2003 Public Hearing.
On October 21, 2003 Council referred amendments to add institutional uses limited to school, university or college as a permitted use, to a November 20, 2003 Public Hearing.
The site in question is located on the north side of Great Northern Way, immediately east of Foley Street and approximately 1,000 ft. west of Clark Drive. The site and surrounding zoning are shown on the attached Appendix _A_.
Subsequent to Council's approval of the CD-1 rezoning, the Director of Planning approved Development Application Number DE407227. This approval was subject to various conditions, including Council's approval of the form of development. The latter condition is one of the few outstanding prior to permit issuance.
DISCUSSION
The proposal involves construction of a mixed-use project containing laboratory, manufacturing and office uses for the bio-medical research occurring on this site. This involves a seven and nine-storey component linked by an atrium which will be the `front door' of the development. Four levels of underground parking for 721 vehicles are proposed.
Building setbacks allow for the Foley Greenway and the Great Northern Way landscape setback anticipated by the Council approved Design Guidelines. This is the first Development Permit approval for new construction in this CD-1 zone. The building is an expansion of the existing Qudra Logic Technologies building on the I-3 zoned site immediately to the east.
This particular site is known as Sub-area 1. There is no requirement for sequencing construction in the CD-1 zone and it is likely further text amendments will be proposed as development interest for this site evolves.
The proposed development has been assessed against the CD-1 By-law and Council-approved guidelines and responds to the stated objectives. It is considered to be of high architectural quality as well as demonstrating best practices for `green' buildings.
Simplified plans, including a site plan and elevations of the proposal, have been included in Appendix _B_.
CONCLUSION
The Director Of Planning has approved Development Application Number DE407227, subject to various conditions to be met prior to the issuance of the development permit. One of these conditions is that the form of development first be approved by Council.
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